What to Know Before Buying a Granite Countertop

Back in the 1980s granite countertop were limited to homes in exclusive neighborhoods. These homes came to be known as McMansions due to their size and their common, often pricey features. Popular demand, however, has made many of these features, including granite countertops, available for everything from those types of homes to studio apartments.

If the countertop in your family’s kitchen is some material besides granite, or if you have an older granite countertop that you want to replace, then, here are some tips to help you with everything from spotting materials that are high quality to what to look for.

Fabrication and Seams

Some granite companies cut all their materials with the use of high powered machines. Other companies prefer to cut the stone by hand. Sometimes a single piece of granite will not cover the entire length of your cabinets. This is especially true if you have cabinets that run a good portion of the perimeter of your family’s kitchen. The edges on granite countertops that have a seam are more aesthetic if the different sections of the stone are pre-assembled during the fabrication process.

The Difference a Centimeter Makes

Standard granite countertops come in one of two sizes – three centimeters or two centimeters. This certainly can affect the price of the countertop material itself. The thicker three centimeter granite is stronger than the two centimeter stone. When looking at granite, ask about a warranty. It may mean paying a little extra now, but you cannot put a price on the peace of mind knowing that you are covered should tragedy befall your new granite counters.

Another way to protect your investment in a kitchen granite counter or bathroom granite vanity top is to ask about who will install the product. Ask about things like, who will come back to fix a problem after the granite is installed, and will the same company who installs take care of the warranty work. It might seem like nothing bad will ever befall your granite countertop, but there are slight chances depending on unique circumstances in which it might.

Steps for Buying a New Granite Countertop

Granite is a beautiful, organic material that looks good in any room of your home. In kitchens, this extremely durable stone is perfect for countertops because it allows you to prepare meals, chop food, or set hot pans right onto the surface of the granite. Here are the steps you might take for buying a new granite countertop:

Visit the showroom. Print out some samples from the internet and take a picture of the room where you will install the granite. You will want to have these with you when you talk to the person at the showroom. You should also know the approximate measurements for the size counter you will need.

Look at both style and your family’s needs. Ask the showroom representative about the quality of the granite you wish to buy.

Make your final selection and prepare for installation. Once you make your final selection, ask the retailer if there is anything you need to do regarding fabricating the granite and prepping your kitchen for the installation of new granite counters.

Get a copy of each warranty. Put these warranties together and keep them in a safe place, such as the same file where you keep information on your kitchen appliances or other major purchases. It cannot be stressed strongly enough that the warranty is something that you should discuss before signing the contract.

Maintaining Your Granite Countertops

Maintaining your granite countertop is easy. All you need is lukewarm water, a soft dish cloth, and some mild dish soap. Get the wet cloth nice and soapy then wash down the countertop. Rinse the soap out of the cloth and then go over your counter again to wipe away any leftover suds. Let the granite countertop air dry. Now that you know how easy it is to buy a granite countertop, all you have to do is make an appointment at our showroom.